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2 Bit Jug Band
Rooted in blues and jazz from the 1920's to 40's, 2 Bit Jug Band delivers forgotten gems with flair, zest and a lot of FUN! Spokane’s Ken Glastre's finger-picking is powerful and dazzling, and his vocal story-telling memorable and entertaining. He sings great old songs you’ve never heard! Joining Ken is Gut Bucket Giff (that's Rossland’s MichaelGifford) on harmonies, single-string washtub bass, jug, kazoo, cornet, tuba ... you name it! Their jazzy, juggy, bluesy, boozy and silly! You're guaranteed to enjoy yourself. |
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Peter Ali
Peter Ali is a talented and self-taught Naive flutist creating his music from spirit within so each performance is unique and special. Playing a variety of styles, he will demonstrate the music of various plains and woodland tribes, as well as traditional flute styles of Norway and Egypt. He shares their stories as well as stories of his rich ethnic heritage. His father from Morocco is Berber and his mother from Mexico is of Native and southern European ancestry. Listen to the sounds of eagle, running river, nature and the spirit in the flute’s song. www.peterali.net |
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Angus Scott Pipe Band
The Angus Scott Pipe Band has enjoyed performing in the Spokane Folk Festival from its very beginning. The band, formed in 1955, was named after Angus Scott, an influential Kimberly BC Pipe Major known for promoting Scottish culture in the Inland Empire. In addition to Folk Festival, the band is active in our region, performing in parades, graduations, private events and other community services. Pipe Major Jenel Thew and Drum Sargent Tom Hamming currently lead Angus Scott Pipe Band. www.aspband.com |
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Baharat!!
Baharat!! provides entertaining and educational performances based on the authentic, upbeat dances of the Middle East and North Africa. This includes not only belly dance, but also traditional folk styles and theatrical works. The group is based in Spokane, WA. www.facebook.com/baharatdancespokane |
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Beargrass
Beargrass is an acoustic folk & bluegrass duo featuring mandolin, tight harmonies and engaging tunes. They play folk, bluegrass and country with originals and cover tunes. www.beargrassband.com |
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Blue Ribbon Tea Company
Blue Ribbon Tea Company is a long time supporter of the Festival. Bill and Kathy Kostelec met through their common love of black and white photography. Some time later, after finding out that Bill sang and played guitar, and finding his book full of songs, Kathy began to push him to play in public. He pushed back, bought her a mandolin and said he needed a backup singer. They have been performing together ever since. Bill is also a virtual singing library of American roots music. He grew up listening to his Dad sing old railroad and prison songs. Consequently, he enjoys playing songs by Jimmie Rodgers, Robert Johnson and Hank Williams, among others. Kathy is originally from western Kentucky and plays mandolin, fiddle, guitar and sometimes the autoharp, but she took up all of her instruments in Spokane after marrying Bill. As a young girl, Kathy loved to read and write poetry. Perhaps, that’s the why songwriting came naturally to her once she had an instrument in her hands and her life allowed for some creative time. theblueribbonteacompany.com |
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Brittany Jean
Brittany Jean, of Brewster, WA, is an Americana singer/songwriter/storyteller and a Nashville recording artist. She is known as a wanderer and avidly quotes movie dialog. bjeanmusic.com |
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Kevin Brown
Kevin Brown, a local musician and bluegrass enthusiast, was Program Director at Whitworth College's KWRS in the early 80s, and never quite shook the radio bug after that. He is involved with the Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association and Spokane Songwriters Organization. Kevin plays mandolin and guitar, and of course sings. www.brownknows.com |
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Carter Junction
The husband of wife duo of Clinton and Sarah Carter known as Carter Junction, perform Folk, Celtic, and Cowboy music with Clinton on vocals and guitar and Sarah on vocals, Celtic Harp, guitar and Irish drum, the Bodhran. Both are gifted vocalists, individually and in harmony, with Clinton singing bass and Sarah soprano. One reviewer described their music as “Johnny Cash Meets Loreena McKennitt”. Carter Junction is rapidly earning a name for themselves at folk venues throughout the Pacific Northwest. Carter Junction released their debut album, Simpler Time, in July 2017. www.reverbnation.com/carter_junction |
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Cimarron Tribal Belly Dance
Cimarron performs American tribal style belly dance, an improvisational (choreography-free) style based on folk dances from around the world. Their performance will include some dancing to dynamic, recorded music, as well as a selection of dancing to live drumming. Enjoy! www.facebook.com/cimarrontribal |
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Hank Cramer
Hank Cramer is a fulltime traveling folksinger from Winthrop, WA. His repertoire includes western, Celtic, maritime, and original songs. He has released over 20 CDs in his career, recorded the soundtracks for three films and is the 2011 winner of the prestigious Humanities Washington Award. Expect a rousing rendition of sea shanties, cowboy songs and Celtic ballads. Plan to sing along! www.hankcramer.com www.reverbnation.com/hankcramer |
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Brett and Janet Dodd
Brett and Janet Dodd are a local Spokane singer-songwriter duo singing tightly woven harmonies drawing from Americana, folk and bluegrass. They first met a couple of decades ago over a casual conversation about mandolins and music, and have been together musically and otherwise ever since. |
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Floating Crowbar
Floating Crowbar is comprised of Don Thompson, Morgan Andersen, Rick Rubin and James Hunter. Floating Crowbar is celebrating the release of their 4th album, “Down the Lane”. They play traditional Irish dance music (with the Haran Irish Dancers) and songs from the British Isles and Irish diaspora. www.floatingcrowbar.com |
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Frankie Ghee
Frankie Ghee is a female singer-songwriter who plays the acoustic guitar, and sings and plays original folk songs. Frankieghee.com |
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Free Whiskey
Free Whiskey is a Celtic folk-rock group that plays an eclectic mix of old and new. The group offers lush vocals and beautiful fiddle and whistle tunes, paired with an addictive rhythm. Free Whiskey plays a fun and artful set of Celtic folk-rock that makes you want to get up and dance! m.facebook.com/FreeWhiskeyFans |
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Gefilte Trout
The Gefilte Trout, from the Moscow, Idaho area, perform a blend of folk and klezmer. They are uniquely Palouse; hence their name. |
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Grant Elementary Drummers & Dancers
The Grant Elementary Drummers & Dancers perform traditional African music and dances. The performing group have been a part of the school for more than 40 years. |
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Haran Irish Dancers
The award-winning Haran Irish Dancers have been based in Spokane since 2002 and enjoy exploring all aspects of Irish dance. With each performance, the dance group brings the true spirit and beauty of Irish step dance to the Pacific Northwest. With performers ranging from beginners to champions, they take you on a journey of Irish dance from traditional social-style dancing to graceful soft-shoe step dance and on to powerful, contemporary hard shoe choreographies. Spokaneharanirishdance.com |
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Heat Speak
Heat Speak is an orchestral folk ensemble from Spokane, WA, led by singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Dario Ré. They use eclectic instrumentation and impassioned poetics to create a unique blend of indie folk, chamber pop and gipsy fusion. The group formally known as the Dario Ré Ensemble, are performing their fourth season here at the Spokane Fall Folk Festival. They've crafted a sound that is truly unique in the Inland Northwest blending indie folk, chamber pop and gipsy fusion. Please welcome to the stage, Heat Speak! www.heatspeakmusic.com |
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Howling Gaels
The Howling Gaels is a quintet of classically and folk trained musicians who bring a fresh perspective to arrangements of traditional Celtic tunes and songs. Their music combines a deep love of traditional Celtic music with technical wizardry and a willingness to innovate musically. With vocals, fiddle, bouzouki, tin whistle, double bass and percussion, they play lively jigs and reels, love songs, slow airs, drinking songs and sing-alongs. Their relaxed performance style attempts to erase the formal divide between performer and audience as they transport listeners to another time and place with tales and musical stories from the Celtic diaspora – fairy kidnappings, a cross-dressing sailor and a maiden who refuses her father’s advice to marry a bagpiper. www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician-Band/Howling-Gaels-936654229682793/ howlinggaels.bandcamp.com/releases |
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Kosher Red Hots
The Kosher Red Hots open the treasury of Jewish music. They embrace a timeless world-café of folk songs, whirlwind klezmer music from Eastern Europe, Judeo-Spanish romances from the eastern Mediterranean, and songs from New York's Yiddish theater. They have collaborated with NPR's Susan Stamberg and have inspired dancing in the aisles on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. The musicians are an adventurous vocalist who sings in Yiddish, Ladino, and English, and three master instrumentalists on clarinet, mandolin, bass and guitar. Together they play music that turns from spirited to tender while they weave tales, humor, history and just plain fun into each concert. www.kosherredhots.com |
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Arvid Lundin & Deep Roots
Arvid Lundin and Deep Roots is an energetic band playing an eclectic mix of Celtic, North American and Scandinavian music. For over 20 years, Deep Roots has been led by master fiddler, Arvid Lundin, and the driving rhythms of David Beach on guitar and mandolin. About 6 years ago, vocalist Char Beach joined the group with her harp, guitar and Bodhran. Most recent member, Cherie Bronstein, adds a powerful beat with her bass fiddle. Deep Roots will get your toes tapping and have you out of your seat dancing. DeepRootsMusic@gmail.com |
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Maple Ridge Band
The Maple Ridge Band plays bluegrass, gospel and more. The 6-person group is equipped with banjo, mandolin guitar, bass, vocal harmonies and riveting lyrics that beautifully blend bluegrass, folk and a little southern twang. Enjoyment guaranteed. mapleridgeband.com |
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Truck Mills
Acclaimed Northwest guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Truck Mills is a musical explorer. Starting in the 1970s, with the country blues, Truck has always searched for a spark of inspiration in music. In the 70s, he found this inspiration in the transcendent slide guitar playing of Blind Willie Johnson and the soaring gospel singing of Mahalia Jackson. Critically acclaimed by blues and folk music reviewers, Truck's music has been described as "soul-stirring," "amazing," "authentic," "warm," "crisp and clear." The foundation of Truck Mills' music lies in the blues, specifically the country blues, but he's not afraid to rework and rebuild the classics of the genre. His guitar work and vocals are infused both with a deep knowledge and love of American roots music, but he roves far and wide from this grounding. His music has a global reach, but a local connection. www.truckmills.com |
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Meshugga Daddies
Spokane’s Meshugga Daddies play lively klezmer music – Jewish party music that’s part Greek, part Balkan, part eastern European seasoned with jazz from America’s golden age of Tin Pan Alley. Be prepared to dance in your seats. Meshugga Daddies is Spokane’s favorite for Jewish holiday celebrations. The Meshugga Daddies are a high energy five piece band using clarinet, saxophone, bass, keyboard and drums. Liz Dreisbach, clarinet, was hooked early by the folk clarinet, fueled by a father's obsession with German oom-pah and a Slovakian grandpa who urged her to play the polkas that came out of his Victrola. Liz has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion with the Kosher Red Hots. Larry Weiser, saxophone and clarinet, is a retired Gonzaga Law School Professor. He’s been jamming in his spare time since he was a kid and plays reggae, ska, R&B and psychedelic rock with the Working Spliffs. Eugene Jablonsky gets around. Spokane’s go-to bassist, he plays all kinds of music on bass and guitar. Besides klezmer, he plays jazz, salsa, western swing, tango, classical, Broadway show tunes and Celtic music. Steve Reich, keyboard, accordion and in-house public defender. Steve’s musical super powers include instant recall of the complete Beatles songbook and vintage TV theme songs. Rick Singer, drums, is one of Spokane’s top portrait photographers. Playing drums and hitting a golf ball around the course when he’s not in the studio, Rick also plays with the country rock band, Sidetrack. For bookings, please contact: Liz Dreisbach 509-536-1126 liz.dreisbach@gmail.com |
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Muckle Roe
Muckle Roe is named for one of the 16 inhabited islands of the more than 100 Shetland Islands. The Shetland Islands that lie in far Northern Scotland have a colorful history heavily influenced by both Scandinavia (particularly Norway) and mainland Scotland. The band is comprised of eight members playing fiddles, guitar, cello, accordion and piano. Two of the members, Carla Carnegie and Arvid Lundin, are cousins whose grandparents emigrated from Sweden. Between their two families, Scandinavian and Celtic music have been mainstays of their musical diet. It is Muckle Roe's pleasure to bring music to the Scottish Highland Games this year! Aye! |
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Musha Marimba
Musha Marimba is a select group of high school students playing Zimbabwean style marimba music. They are an experienced performing group, entertaining audiences throughout the northwest. Musha Marimba will play traditional music from Zimbabwe and other parts of southern Africa as well as new compositions written in the Zimbabwean style. The music is polyrhythmic and polyphonic, and full of energy and excitement. Audiences are encouraged to join in clapping and dancing. |
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Northwest Hula Company
Spokane's only professional Hula dance entertainment company. The Northwest Hula Co. features authentic and traditional Hawaiian Hula, the fast-hip-shaking Tahitian Dance and the New Zealand Maori Poi Ball Dance. The group is a leader in authentic and traditional Hawaiian Hula and Polynesian dance. www.northwesthula.com |
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Otis Orchards Malleteers
As an auditioned mallet percussion group of 4th, 5th and 6th graders, the Otis Orchards Malleteers perform multicultural instrumental music. The students perform at various schools and community events around Washington State every year. |
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Kevin Pace & the Early Edition
Kevin Pace & the Early Edition play traditional bluegrass and gospel. They entertain their audience with a fresh take on the classic sounds of traditional bluegrass along with a passion to carry the "good news" through gospel music. grassboy71.wixsite.com/kevinpacemusic |
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Pages of Harmony
The Pages of Harmony are a male a cappella chorus who have been singing in the Barbershop style in the greater Spokane area since 1951. The Pages of Harmony and quartets sing a cappella music from the 1890s through the 2010s in the Barbershop Harmony style. www.PagesofHarmony.org |
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Sidetrack
Sidetrack is a versatile, six-piece band with a great beat. Most of the band are multi-instrumentalists, and the band has a definite groove. The band plays country rock, swing, rock-n-roll, rockabilly, electric bluegrass and many original tunes from slow waltzers to fast up-tempo songs. www.facebook.com/SidetrackSpokaneBand |
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Silver Spurs Youth Folk Dancers
The Silver Spurs repertoire represents over 40 cultures, including Mexican, Japanese, English, Ukrainian, Filipino, Norwegian, Haitian and traditional American dances. A timeline of dance crazes from the USA has popular styles including Charleston, Lindy hop, swing and disco. Character dances, depicting eras or interpretation of styles are included in the dance repertoire. The Spurs perform primarily in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. www.silverspursyouthfolkdancers.org |
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Sondahl & Hawkins
Brad and Jonathan have been playing together since around 2002. During that time, Jonathan has had to absorb the wide variety of traditional folk, blues, bluegrass and original music Brad likes to play. Both musicians are craftspeople for their day jobs. Brad makes and sells pottery in Spirit Lake, Idaho and Jonathan specializes in restoration house painting in Spokane, Washington. The same attention to detail that goes into their crafts goes into their avocation of music making. In addition, Jonathan actually knows something about music, having an M.A. in music. Brad pretends he knows what he's doing and plays it by ear. sondahl.com/sonhawkmusic.html |
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Spokane Irish Dance
Spokane Irish Dance is a community dance school dedicated to bringing the joy and love of Irish Dance to the people of Spokane. At the Festival, enjoy a mix of reels, jigs and hard shoe dance to get the audience clapping and their toes tapping. spokaneirishdancers.com |
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Spokane Taiko
Spokane Taiko, founded in 1997, seeks to build community and create awareness through the traditional Japanese music, especially rhythms, dance and martial arts. Audiences will be soothed at times and electrified at others by the primal beat and pulse of the instruments. spokanetaiko.org |
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Stevens County Stompers
The Stevens County Stompers is a clogging group for all ages and all experience levels, from Colville, WA, in Stevens County. Melissa Johnson started the group over 16 years ago and it's still going strong. Melissa's daughter, Hannah Johnson, has been in the group clogging from day one. Hannah studied other dance forms along with her clogging as she grew up. She now holds two national clogging titles in choreographed solo for the years 2014 and 2015. The group performs at most of the local summer festivals in Stevens County and has entertained at the Fall Folk Festival for over 12 years. If anyone is in our neck of the woods, and is interested in learning to clog dance and wants to join our fun group, contact Melissa Johnson at (509) 675-1786. |
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Swingset Hooligans
The Swingset Hooligans are a swing dance performance troop based in Spokane, WA. They are an arm of Strictly Swing Spokane, a local organization that hosts weekly swing dance classes and social dances. The Swingset Hooligans perform entertaining routines focused on preserving the vintage social dances of the swing era. Their performance contains multiple dance styles popular in the 1920s thru the 1950s, including: Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, Solo Vintage Jazz and Air Steps. We're sure you enjoy the show! strictlyswingspokane.com |
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Taste of Tango
Taste of Tango perform traditional to contemporary dance. |
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Ukulele Players of the Palouse
UPOP meet each month; the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month and the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. All practices are from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Bishop Place Community Room in Pullman. Everyone is welcome; all ages and levels of playing ability. For anyone under 18 years of age, we ask that they be accompanied by a parent or sponsor. www.facebook.com/UkulelePlayersOfThePalouse |
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Patrice Webb
Patrice Webb is a singer songwriter from Sandpoint Idaho where she lives on a rambling 23-acre homestead with her husband and a family of four legged critters. Patrice’s songs tell of the lives of those whose stories make up the vibrant tapestry known as Americana. These songs are sung in a voice full of poignancy and humor and are described as “snapshots in time told on a bed of folk, country, swing and the blues.” Her music swings to the beat of 1940s western swing, lingers a bit on what might be called “barefoot gypsy jazz,” then veers off into honky-tonkin’ country and bluegrass, before it rests on the sweet sounds of quiet story telling folk or blues. Patrice has released three CDs, Photographs in 2011, Turning of the Page in 2014 and In My Sentimental Dreaming in 2019. Her songs have been receiving international airplay and have been receiving praise for their diversity and vivid storytelling. Her music is best described as Americana that are homemade with pride in a way that defines and speaks of a life of more than 50 years walking the back roads of a diverse musical tapestry known as Americana. patricewebb.com |
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